We’ve just come out of one of the warmest Winters on record but many Canberrans wouldn’t know it after receiving their energy bills. Even in warmer Winters, houses that leak heat need their heater working overtime. Chances are, if your house struggled to retain heat this Winter, it’s going to have a hard time keeping the heat out this Summer. Using a thermal camera to find out exactly where heat enters and escapes your home, you can make some simple improvements to be warmer in Winter, cooler in Summer and save money on your energy bills.
Read on to find out how, during September, RiotACT readers can get a free thermal imaging assessment of their home.
Here’s the 5 most common areas that Alexander Watson’s thermal camera finds heat leaking and how to fix them in your home.
Gaps around doors – Visit the draught proofing isle at Bunnings and seal up gaps around doors. Every external door should have a weather seal at the bottom and foam around the frame to keep the heat inside in Winter and outside in Summer.
Gaps in ceiling insulation – Only a 5% gap in your ceiling insulation can reduce its performance by up to 50%! Its not a nice job, but spending the weekend filling in all the gaps in your insulation makes an enormous difference. Keep an eye out for gap prone areas around heating and cooling vents, in tight corners and over the manhole.
Uncovered downlights – Downlights without covers are not only a fire risk, they also act like a chimney for heat into your ceiling and leave a massive gap in your insulation. A UK company called Tenmat have a fire rated cover that seals off the downlight and allows insulation to completely cover the light so there are no gaps whatsoever in your insulation. You can buy them online at www.downlightcovers.com.au
Exhaust fans – Having an uncovered exhaust fan is like leaving a window open all year round. Look for a nifty product called a DraftStoppa at Bunnings that fits straight over your fan – it stays closed when the fan is off and opens up automatically when the fan turns on.
Ceiling and Wall Vents – These are still found in older homes built in the days of unflued gas and wood fired heaters. These days they serve no purpose other than allowing heat to escape in Winter and enter in Summer. Seal them up with foam gap filler rod and paintable gap filler or even remove them completely and patch the plaster.
Want to see what the thermal camera picks up in your home?
It’s easy to get a thermal camera in for a look at your home. Book a thermal imaging assessment with the energy efficiency experts at Alexander Watson today and find out exactly where your home leaks heat. Usually costing $99, during September RiotACT readers can book an assessment for free by clicking this link.
Alexander Watson’s thermal imaging assessments are full of handy DIY tips and also include an obligation free quote for any recommended improvements that the camera picks up. Make your home comfortable, slash your energy bills and contact Alexander Watson Energy Efficiency today.
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